Monthly Archives: June 2013

The angels say ameen to the du’a of the believers, thus making the du’a more likely to be answered.

In Saheeh Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah, it is narrated from Abu Darda that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, ‘The Dua of a person for his Muslim brother in his absence will be answered. At his head there is an angel, and every time he prays for him for something good, the angel who has been appointed to be with him, says, ‘Ameen, may you have likewise.

This hadith is saying that two kind of people are receiving the merits when you make du’a for your absent brother

i. The absent brother who didn’t know of this du’a. When the angels say Ameen, it means to say O Allah accept his Dua for the absent Muslim.

ii. You yourself because the angels also will say and for you too’ after, ‘Ameen,’ meaning may Allah grant you the same.

Imam an-Nawawi (rahimahullah) writes in the explanation of this Hadeeth, ‘The excellence of supplicating for the absent Muslims is mentioned in this Hadeeth. This merit will be achieved even if one were to supplicate for a group of Muslims. Also, if one supplicates for the whole Muslim Ummah, he will have achieved the same advantage, as is known from the apparent meaning of the Hadeeth.

Qadhi Ayaz (rahimahullah) relates, ‘If the Salaf wanted to beseech Allah for something with regards to oneself, then they would supplicate to Allah with the same on behalf of their Muslim brethren because such a supplicate is accepted and the Angel supplicates for the supplicant.’

Hafidh Dhahabi (rahimahullah) relates from Umm ad-Darda that Abu Darda had 380 Muslim friends, for whom he would supplicate in his prayer. His wife inquired about the issue and he replied, ‘Shouldn’t I desire that the Angels supplicate for me.’ (

Also, we must be careful not to pray against our brothers.

Take note also on this hadeeth

Umm Salamah narrated that Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said, “Do not pray for anything but good for yourselves, for the angels say “ameen” to whatever you say.”

Thus a believer should never pray against himself.

ix. The angels pray for forgiveness for the believers

Allah says in As Shuara 42: 5

Nearly the heavens might be rent asunder from above them (by His Majesty), and the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth, verily, Allâh is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Allah tells us that the angels pray for forgiveness for those who are on earth

Also the angels of the bearers of the Throne glorify their Lord pray for the forgiveness of the believers especially those who repent. They pray that Allah will save them from Fire and place them in Jannah and keep them away from committing sins and act of disobedience

Al Ghaffir 40: 9

Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allâh) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh) (saying): “Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire! (7) “Our Lord! And make them enter the ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) which you have promised them, — and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their offspring! Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (8) “And save them from (the punishment, for what they did of) the sins, and whomsoever You save from (the punishment for what he did of) the sins (i.e. pardon him) that Day, him verily, You have taken into mercy.” And that is the supreme success. (9)

Oh what joy to be among those that angels pray for. Let us strive to be among the believers who are being prayed constantly upon.

x. The angels attend gatherings of knowledge and circles of dhikr

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted, has teams of angels who go about on the roads seeking those who remember Allah. When they find some people remembering Allah they call to one another and say, `Come to what you are looking for;’ and they surround them with their wings till the space between them and the lowest sky is fully covered.

What kind of circles and gatherings are referred to here? It would be a gathering that talks about Allah and adhere to the sunnah of the Prophet salllahu alaihi wasalam, away from lagha. For examples quran classes, halaqah, discussions about the deen, lectures and others Insya Allah.

So when we are doing halaqah, we hope that there will be angels around us who will ask for our forgiveness and ask that we enter jannah. Frequently make promises meanwhile.

Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah’s) mercy envelops them, Sakinah, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him.” [Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith also highlights the merits of remembrance of Allah and the high grades of the people indulging in it.

xi. The angels record those who attend Jumu’ah.

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah The Messenger of Allah said “On the day of Jummah, the angels stand at the entrance of that Masjid in which Jummah salaat is to be offered. They write down the name of the person who enters the Masjid first, and thereafter the name of the person who follows, and they continue doing this. The person who entered first will receive the reward of sacrificing a camel in the path of Allah; the one who followed him will get the reward of sacrificing a cow, thereafter a chicken, thereafter the reward of giving an egg as charity in the path of Allah. Once the khutbah commences, the angels close the register and begin listening to the khutbah. “ (Bukhari and Muslim)

Thus the angels record those who go to friday prayers in order of attendance.

xii. The angels also record whatever people say about good things.

Narrated Rifa’a bin Rafi Az Zuraqi: One day we were praying behind the Prophet. When he raised his head from bowing, he said, “Sami’a-l-lahu Liman hamida.” A man behind him said, “Rabbana walaka-l hamd hamdan Kathiran taiyiban mubarakan fihi” (O our Lord! All the praises are for You, many good and blessed praises). When the Prophet completed the prayer, he asked, “Who has said these words?” The man replied, “I.” The Prophet said, “I saw over thirty angels competing to write it first.” (Bukhari 799)

The recording angels are definitely other that the two angels who write down a person’s good deeds and evil deeds since they are described as thirty odd.

xiii. The angels change shifts

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “There are angels who take turns in visiting you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the dawn (Fajr) and the afternoon (Asr) prayers. Those who have spent the night with you, ascend (to the heaven) and Allah, Who knows better about them, asks, ‘In what condition did you leave My slaves?’ They reply, ‘We left them while they were performing Salat and we went to them while they were performing Salat.’” [Sahih Bukhari]

Angels are roaming around looking for people who are in the remembrance of Allah. They have different groups and work in shifts. When one group comes, the other group go and they meet at Fajr prayer and asr prayer.

Abu Musa reported: The Messenger ofallah (may peace be upon him) was standing amongst us and he told us five things. He said: Verily the Exalted and Mighty God does not sleep, and it does not befit Him to sleep. He lowers the scale and lifts it. The deeds in the night are taken up to Him before the deeds of the day. and the deeds of the day before the deeds of the night. His veil is the light. In the hadith narrated by Abu Bakr (instead of the word” light” ) it is fire. If he withdraws it (the veil), the splendour of His countenance would consume His creation so far as His sight reaches.

Perhaps this is the time that our deeds taken up to Allah. Indeed Allah is All Aware.

Allah has ascribed a high status to Fajr prayers because the angels witness to it

In Surah al Isra’ 17: 78-79

Perform As¬Salât from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishâ’ prayers), and recite the Qur’ân in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Qur’ân in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night). (78) And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salât (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qur’an in the prayer), as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer – Nawâfil) for you (O Muhammad SAW). It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqâm Mahmûd (a station of praise and glory, i.e. the honour of intercession on the Day of Resurrection). (79)

Almighty Allah knows everything but even then He asks the angels about His pious slaves so that the piety of the believers and their merit and distinction become evident to all.

The angels for the night come at the time of Asr when the angels from the morning are present. The angels of the two shifts assemble at this time and exchange duties. The angels of the night shift then leave their duty in the morning at Fajr, and the angels of the morning shift resume their duty. Thus, the two groups assemble again at this time.

Angels are very punctual. They know no such thing as procrastination or delay. Thus, when they are exchanging duties only the people who are punctual in their Salat are engaged in Fajr or Asr prayers. Therefore, we should try very hard to be punctual in praying the Asr and Fajr Salat so that when Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) asks the angels about us He is told that the angels left us while we were remembering Him and praying and not while we were sleeping, busy in games, watching T.V., or some other worthless activity.